Method of forming labels



, April 4, 1939.

P. M. GILFILLAN METHOD OF FORMING LABELS Filed April 14, l936 I Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD. or FORMING LABELS Application April l4, 1936, Serial No. 74,305

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to the production of decorative labels and has particular reference to the provision of an improved type of laminated label having a transparent non-fibrous I layer and a backing sheet of paper arranged to overlap itself when the label is assembled with an article to be packaged.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a method of forming labels of transparent cellulose sheeting and paper laminated together in such a manner that when assembled the labels will present a pap'er-to-paper overlap.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a method of forming labels of the 18, typedescribed in which a plurality of the labels are produced in a composite laminated web which subsequently is severed in such a manner as to provide a paper extension on each of the labels.

These and other objects will be evident from a consideration of the following description of the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a web of label material ready to be-cut into individual labels;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an individual label ready to be applied to a package;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a round package of candy mints having the label attached thereto, the label being partially broken away to show its method of attachment;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a round metallic can having the label attached thereto;

35 Fig. 6 is a plan view, on reduced scale, showing an alternative method of forming the labels; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a second modification of the label.

For a number of years the practice has grown of applying to packages of various types an outer wrapping of transparent cellulose sheeting such as regenerated cellulose and cellulose acetate. These materials are characterized by their noniibrous structure and a particular problem which has been met with in the production of packages having an outer transparent cellulose sheeting wrapper is the production of a satisfactory closure. Due to the non-fibrous character of the cellulose sheeting it is dificult to obtain a glue which will produce a satisfactory bond between overlapped edges of the sheeting.

This problem is met with in particular in the case of labels, as in can labels, where the transthe round can in the usual manner and the overlapped edges of the label are glued together.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, my improved label is applied to form a package in which the ends of the transparent cellulose sheeting are not adhesively secured together. In producing the improved label'a web ill of transparent cellulose sheeting is adhesively secured substantially throughout its entire area to a backing sheet or web ll composed of a fibrous material such as paper. The paper backing member has an attaching portion l2 extending beyond the edge of the cellulose sheeting, as shown in Fig. 3. By combining the cellulose sheeting to a fibrous material substantially throughout the coextensive area of the two webs, the cellulose sheeting is firmly anchored, even though it is of a nonfibrous character. The labels then are wrapped about the package to which it is desired to apply them, in such a manner that the paper adjacent the end of the laminated web opposite the strip I2 overlaps the latter in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The fibrous paper is of such nature that it will hold the label in position about the containe'r in a firm manner, even when the label is applied with a. wet glue. It will be noted that the cellulose sheeting does not bear any of the strains incident to holding the label in place. As shown in Fig. 4, the label is wrapped about a rigid package l3 of candy mints which initially are wrapped in some material such as waxed paper or foil, the label forming a jacket about the package of mints.

As'the principal purpose of the label is to bear advertising matter and a description of the goods contained within the package, it is desirable to apply printed matter interiorly of the two webs.

That is, the printed. matter is applied in reverse to the inner face of the transparent cellulose sheeting and the sheeting thereafter is adhesively secured to the web of paper substantially throughout the coextensive area of the two webs.

In production, it is. desirable to manufacture the labels in quantities and for this purpose a plurality of the labels are shown in Fig. 1 as being formed from webs of paper and cellulose sheeting. The paper web ll extends beyond the web ill of transparent cellulose sheeting on both sides and the two webs are adhesively united together after the printing operation to produce a composite material. Thereafter, the composite web is cut in the manner shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1 to produce individual labels of the type as shown in Fig. 3. It is preferred to laminate the paper and cellulose sheeting webs together in the an intaglio printing unit in which an etched cylinder deposits the lacquer bonding material to the entire surface of the transparent cellulose sheeting except for a central strip l4. The paper has edge portions i2 extending from the outer edges of the transparent cellulose sheeting and after lamination of the two sheetstogether the central strip M which is not adhesively secured to the paper backing member is removed as by being slitted along lines I5 and I6. Alter removal of the strip ll the composite web is cut in the manner indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the web 8 has four labels across its face. By duplicating the operation by which the strip II is produced and removed, the width 01' the web may be such as to produce six or more labels.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7, the transparent cellulose sheeting and paper webs are coextensive and there is provided on the outside surface of the paper along one edge of the label *a second paper attaching strip l1. It will be observed that in this embodiment the opposed edges of the paper web II are glued respectively to opposed edges of the attaching strip ll. That is, the transparent cellulose label is provided with a paper carrier adhesively secured thereto along substantially its entire area and opposite edges of the paper carrier are bonded to a common strip of paper. As before stated, the paper itself is of such nature as to be glued together with ease. iound possible to eliminate the strip H.

In some instances it will be r Various changes in the structure as described herein for purposes or illustration and explanation are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the aplongitudinally extending central strip, severing the unglued central strip from the transparent into at least four series of labels including a longitudinal out along the unglued central strip.

2. The method of forming labels, which comprises adhesively securing the printed side of an overall printed web of transparent non-fibrous sheeting substantially throughout its area to a fibrous web of paper having at least one edge extending beyond the transparent sheeting to provide a glue flap, and cutting the resulting composite web into individual labels having a paper edge extending beyond the non-fibrous transparent sheeting.

3. The method of forming labels, which comprises adhesively securing the printed side of an overall printed web of transparent non-fibrous cellulose sheeting substantially throughout its area to a fibrous web of paper having edges extending on each side thereof, and cutting the resulting composite web into individual labels having a paper edge extending beyond the nonfibrous cellulose sheeting to provide a glue flap.

PAUL M. GILF'ILLAN.

*cellulose sheeting, and cutting the combined web 

